In Good Grief for Now and Later, C. Edward Mason delivers a heartfelt, accessible, and surprisingly comforting meditation on loss, love, and legacy. Drawing from decades of personal experience officiating and attending over 60 funerals annually, Mason takes readers on an intimate journey through grief—not as a clinical subject, but as a deeply human, spiritual, and communal process.
Rather than a traditional grief guide, this book is part memoir, part devotional, and part storytelling compendium. Each chapter focuses on real-life funeral experiences—some deeply moving, others unexpectedly humorous. From “short funerals” that end before mourners can even process the loss, to “double eulogies,” “pet funerals,” and even “humorous funerals,” Mason illustrates the vast emotional and cultural range of how people mourn. His insight into the difference between “funerals” and “homegoing services” (a cultural distinction in many African American communities) sets a thoughtful tone early on: grief, while painful, can also be sacred and even joyous.
The strength of this book lies in its authenticity. Mason’s reflections are candid—he shares his own losses, including the passing of his mother, his brother, and his aunt, not with detached formality but with raw, often redemptive emotion. His reconciliation with his estranged brother is especially poignant and emblematic of the book’s larger message: that healing is possible, and that grief is a bridge between the past and the present—not a wall.
A particularly moving section is Mason’s recounting of helping his mother accept Christ on her deathbed, a moment that becomes both a spiritual and emotional turning point. His treatment of more difficult topics—like suicide and Alzheimer’s—is respectful, informed, and compassionate. These chapters are practical, too, offering readers gentle advice and actionable steps, from pre-planning funerals to writing down important documents and estate wishes.
The book’s tone is pastorally warm, conversational, and occasionally humorous. Mason’s storytelling is vivid, often illuminating how funerals are not only about the dead—but also profoundly about the living. He encourages readers to reflect, reconcile, and prepare—emotionally and practically—for both “now and later.”
Good Grief for Now and Later doesn’t offer a one-size-fits-all approach to grief, and that’s precisely its value. It acknowledges that every journey through loss is different, but through stories, scripture, and shared wisdom, it reminds us that none of us are truly alone.
This book is recommended for anyone navigating personal loss, for clergy and counselors, and for families who want to have difficult conversations before they become urgent. It’s a guide not only for mourning but for meaningful living.
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5)
Publisher: Isabella Media Inc
ISBN-13: 979-8-9862460-0-0
